US COAST GUARD ACADEMY AT NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT

Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering Management Education at USCGA

Founded in 1876, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut is a professional college educating future United States Coast Guard officers. It is a fully resident military cadet campus and the smallest United States federal service academy.

The Academy provides a four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) degree program, with the curriculum heavily oriented toward math, science, and engineering. Like the other U.S. federal service academies, our students receive a full scholarship and our graduates serve in the military for at least five years after graduation. However, unlike the other service academies, there are no congressional appointments — admission is based solely on nationwide competition.

The Coast Guard Academy has a proud tradition as one of the most selective colleges in America. Students come to the Academy to be challenged academically, physically, and professionally. By providing excellent academic programs, a structured military regimen, and competitive athletics, the Academy graduates competent and professional military leaders who serve their country and humanity with honor as Coast Guard officers.

Academic Programs

Every Coast Guard cadet completes core studies in sciences and liberal arts, then specializes in one of 13 programs of study:

Undergraduate Programs

Civil Engineering (Environmental or Structural): Civil Engineering (CE) provides a solid background in mathematics and basic sciences applied toward the study and design of engineered systems. As a broad field encompassing many disciplines, Civil Engineering offers a challenging and fulfilling career to individuals with a wide variety of interests. Upper level courses in the major include study in structural analysis, geotechnical engineering, construction, water resources, and environmental engineering.

Electrical Engineering (Computer or Systems): The Electrical Engineering major is a sound undergraduate educational program that prepares future officers to be the Coast Guard’s leaders in developing, evaluating and implementing new technologies. The two essentials for this role, understanding of a systems approach and fluency with computers, are at the core of this major. This program challenges cadets to become critical thinkers who can use computer systems and analytical methods to solve real world technical problems.

Government (International Affairs or Public Policy): The study of Government, History, Ethics, Foreign Language, English, and Law comprise the Humanities Department; and in concert, they offer cadets a major in Government. Part of the mission of the Department is to ground all cadets, whatever their majors, in the liberal arts. For government majors, that grounding continues with a multidisciplinary selection of courses leading to either of two Government tracks: International Affairs or Public Policy. With these twin missions, Humanities offers more core courses than any other department.

Management: The AACSB International Accredited Management Major provides high quality undergraduate degree, preparing students for their future role as stewards of public resources and global business and government leaders. The Management major at the Coast Guard Academy is built primarily on the intellectual foundations of the behavioral sciences, economics, mathematics, information technology and accounting/ finance. Students are educated in the broad array of functional skills and analytical processes required of contemporary leaders and managers.

Marine and Environmental Sciences (Bio-Environmental, Chem-Environmental or Physical): The Marine and Environmental Sciences (MES) major stresses understanding of the complex relationships between humans and the land, oceans and atmosphere. Importantly, this program is not simply marine biology. Rather, MES provides a technical, multi-disciplinary education closely aligned with Coast Guard missions by integrating oceanography, chemistry and biology

Mechanical Engineering: The Mechanical Engineering major provides a solid foundation for service as a Coast Guard Officer, professional engineering practice, and further study in Mechanical Engineering or many other related fields. The major requirements develop the students’ ability to apply scientific principles in the design and analysis of mechanical and energy conversion systems. Students are challenged with design problems in most of the major courses, which provide opportunities for developing creativity in solving real-world problems. The program culminates with a hands-on capstone design project in which teams of students use their acquired knowledge to design, build, and test a practical device.

Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering: The Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NA&ME) major provides a strong undergraduate educational program in Engineering, Mathematics and Sciences. This program emphasizes development of the student’s ability to understand and apply engineering principles to the design and analysis of surface ships.

Operations Research and Computer Analysis (Applied Mathematics): The Operations Research and Computer Analysis (ORCA) major provides graduates with a background in mathematics, statistics, and computers. The primary focus of the Operations Research and Computer Analysis (ORCA) major at the U. S. Coast Guard Academy is to enable cadets to conceptualize and describe reality using the tools of mathematics and statistics, develop appropriate models, derive solutions using computer technology, apply the solutions to specific Coast Guard and other real world problems and to effectively communicate solutions.

USCGA Features

The Coast Guard Academy is more than a great place to learn and grow; it's a great place to live. The region has a long tradition of embracing the sea, the military and higher education. Our campus is on the waterfront, set upon rolling hills with meticulously manicured grounds. The living environment is secure, supportive and regimented, in the best tradition of the US service academies. The Coast Guard Academy provides an atmosphere of closeness and inter-reliance that befits our humanitarian mission and commitment to service above self.

Campus Location: The US Coast Guard Academy is situated on a classic New England college campus

Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and The Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering majors are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). The Management major has been accepted into candidacy status by the American Association of Colleges and Schools of Business (AACSB).

Honors Internships: The program accepts students from all fields who exhibit a dedication to extracurricular endeavors, an interest in cultural issues and a strong commitment to community service. Most importantly, those selected must demonstrate exceptional leadership potential and be effective communicators in order to convey what they learned in Poland to their peers at the Academy.

Pay: All cadets receive pay totaling ,150 per year. Cadet pay is furnished by the government for uniforms, equipment, textbooks, and other expenses incidental to training. These funds cover all official expenses and are used only as directed by the Superintendent. Each cadet receives a portion of his or her monthly pay for personal expenses. Any funds remaining in cadets' accounts are given to them upon graduation or departure from the Academy.

Obligation: Upon graduation from the Coast Guard Academy, there is a five-year commitment to serve as a commissioned Coast Guard officer. Approximately 80% of Academy graduates go to sea after graduation, although some go to marine safety offices, ashore operations, or flight training.

Tuition: No tuition fees for US citizens.

Further Study & Service Commitment: 80% of graduates go to graduate school (most paid for by the Coast Guard) and 85% of graduates choose to serve beyond their five-year commitment

You are eligible to apply for the Coast Guard Academy if you are: A US citizen of sound moral character, Unmarried with no dependents or financial debt, 17-22 years of age on July 1 of the year of entry and A high school graduate or GED recipient (or will be prior to entry). If you are not a U.S. citizen, you may want to consider applying to be an International Cadet.

Application Requirements

Online Application - the initial application data that allows us to start a file on you

Essays - available online after you've completed the online application

Supplemental Forms - available online after you've completed the online application: Please note that supplemental information may be returned to you if received before the online application is submitted.

High School Transcript(s), Math Instructor Evaluation, English Instructor Evaluation, Coach/PE Instructor Evaluation, Commanding Officer Recommendation (if currently serving in the military), College Transcript(s) (if you are or were in college) and Physical Fitness Examination (PFE).

Official SAT Reasoning or ACT with Writing Test Scores

DoDMERB Medical Exam must be on file before an appointment to the Academy can be offered.

Basic Requirements for international cadets: Please check the Academy catalog.

The Honors Program at the Academy aims to cultivate academic excellence across all majors and encourage and reward scholarly achievement.

The USCGA offers the following to fourth and third-class cadets: special sections of core courses such as the Art of Effective Writing and Honors Literature, validation and placement in advanced courses in Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.

Second and first-class cadets may be selected for the Honors Colloquium to compete for: prestigious scholarships such as the Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, Truman, etc.and international summer internships and travel to academic conferences to present their research.